Sagouran plague is burning its way across the galaxy. No cure exists; the only treatment is an illegal drug called Rust. Pyr, captain of a rogue pirate ship, may be able to find a better solution, but he is dying of a slow poison. It would take a miracle for him to survive long enough to find a cure for the plague.

The miracle is Roxanne Shirah Merkrates, a medical officer in United Systems Military Service. Roxy is a koltiri Physician, one of a race of legendary telempathic healers. Sent on a mercy mission to one of the stricken planets, she is captured by slavers. Her knowledge and abilities could halt the spread of the disease and save Pyr's life, but Roxanne has plans of her own, and they don't include saving a rogue pirate captain's life.

In the end, though, pirate and physician risk betraying everything they believe in, for the sake of a bond deeper than any they ever dreamed of.